Things to Do in NYC, August 2026

The Blankman List of art, music, theater, and more happening this August in New York City

The Blankman List is a monthly curated list of things to do in New York City. It showcases the full range of what there is to do, for residents and tourists alike.

I especially seek out artistic and cultural events like concerts, plays, and art exhibits, along with anything that is high-quality, notable, and/or free. There is at least one event for every day of August 2026, and no borough or event type is off limits.

Creating this list is a lot of work for me! Seeing events past the first week requires a paid subscription. All subscribers receive a free highlights post.

Disclaimer: Before going anywhere, please confirm the date, time, location, cost, and description using the listed website. Any event is at risk of being rescheduled, relocated, sold out, at capacity, or canceled. Costs are rounded to the nearest dollar and may change. I try to vet quality and describe accurately, but I may misjudge. All views are my own.

Saturday, August 1

• Lit Pub Crawl

  • Literary history tour through pubs of Greenwich Village; 2–5 pm; every Saturday

  • $49 (drinks not included)

  • Currently includes The Four-Faced Liar, Kettle of Fish, and Marie’s Crisis

  • Starting location provided to attendees (Greenwich Village, Manhattan)

• Vintage Showcase

  • Eco-conscious vintage sale with local vendors of clothing and accessories; 12–4 pm

  • Free with museum admission, which is $5–$8 suggested

  • Staten Island Museum at Snug Harbor

  • 1000 Richmond Terrace (Randall Manor, Staten Island)

• PJ Morton: The Saturday Night Sunday Morning Tour

  • Concert tour stop from R&B singer-songwriter PJ Morton; 8 pm

  • $62–$98

  • The Town Hall

  • 123 W 43rd St (Midtown, Manhattan)

Sunday, August 2

• The 2026 BKLYN MILE

  • “Fast and exhilarating” one-mile road race for runners of all skill levels; races start at 9:30 am

  • $55 (includes T-shirt and other swag)

  • Marsha P. Johnson State Park

  • 90 Kent Ave (Williamsburg, Brooklyn)

• China Institute Centennial Celebration: SummerStage Concert

  • Outdoor concert of Chinese music and musicians featuring WayV, THE EITHER, and Chopstix; 7–10 pm (6 pm doors)

  • Free

  • Central Park, Rumsey Playfield

  • Along E 71st St (Central Park, Manhattan)

• Manifesting Marilyn: The Making of an Icon

  • Small-scale immersive exhibition on Marilyn Monroe presented by Korean fine dining restaurant Genesis House; 11 am–7 pm; through Aug 2

  • Free entry (restaurant tasting menu is $148)

  • Genesis House

  • 40a 10th Ave (Meatpacking District, Manhattan)

Monday, August 3

• Welcome II The Terrordome

  • Screening of Ngozi Onwurah’s 1994 Afrofuturist film in which “Black people have been relegated to a slum called the Terrordome”; 7 & 9 pm; Jul 31–Aug 6

  • $19 adult / $14 senior/child

  • BAM Rose Cinemas at Peter Jay Sharp Building

  • 30 Lafayette Ave (Fort Greene, Brooklyn)

Tuesday, August 4

• WTO/99

  • Documentary on the clash between the nascent World Trade Organization (WTO) and 40,000+ protestors, followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers; 7 pm

  • $20

  • Nitehawk Cinema Prospect Park

  • 188 Prospect Park W (South Slope, Brooklyn)

Wednesday, August 5

• Vangeline: Naiad Metal

  • Solo butoh performance from Vangeline merging “ancient myth with modern architecture”; 6 pm; Aug 5–8; part of Summer for the City through Aug 8

  • Free

  • Hearst Plaza

  • 30 Lincoln Center Plaza (Lincoln Square, Manhattan)

• Pythagoras and the Invention of Musical Theory with Bruce M. King

  • Lecture by historian Bruce M. King on Pythagoras’ involvement with the history of music “and the cosmos”; part of Sips & Scholars Jul 17–Aug 19

  • Free (includes refreshments)

  • The Brooklyn Firefly

  • 7003 3rd Ave (Bay Ridge, Brooklyn)

Thursday, August 6

• Summer School: Curator-Led Exhibition Tour (Session III)

  • Conversation and Q&A with art curator Jenée-Daria Strand on Woody De Othello’s public exhibit Guardian Spirit; 7–9 pm

  • $35

  • Brooklyn Bridge Park - Pier 1

  • 2 Furman St (Dumbo, Brooklyn)

• Abandoned BBQ Joint Magic Show

  • Stage magic show at an abandoned BBQ place in Williamsburg; 8 pm (7:30 pm doors)

  • $60 (includes beer and wine)

  • Former location of Fette Sau

  • 354 Metropolitan Ave (Williamsburg, Brooklyn)

Friday, August 7

• Summer Wheat: Forbidden Fruit

  • Exhibition of paintings from Oklahoma-born artist Summer Wheat about “the historical and biblical idea of temptation”; 10 am–6 pm; through Aug 8

  • Free

  • A Hug from the Art World

  • 112 10th Ave (Chelsea, Manhattan)